High energy transients can be generated by lightning strikes, switching on or off high current inductive loads, electromagnetic pulses or electrostatic discharge. The waveforms induced into transmission lines by these transients can last for several milliseconds and reach kilovolts of potential and kiloamps of current. Typical rise times are 1 to 10 µseconds with fall times from 20 to 100,000 µseconds.

Astrolab, Inc. Surge Protection Adaptors are designed to prevent external high energy transients from damaging sensitive components and modules inside microwave systems. The field replaceable plasma gas tube inside the Surge Protector Adaptor limits the intensity of the transient to a safe level. The gas tube is a high speed switch that turns on at a specified voltage and short circuits the center conductor to the bulkhead. The gas tube turns off after the transient decays to a minimal level and allows the RF signal to pass through the Adaptor again. The Adaptor is typically bulkhead mounted to the frame of the microwave system with the ground path for the transient supplied by earthing the frame.

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